Kurt Albert, the "Father of Red Point climbing" is dead. He died yesterday evening (September 28th) after a fatal fall on Sunday. The famous German free climber was born on January 28th, 1954. One of his most outstanding climbs was the "Eternal Flame" on the Nameless Tower in the Karakoram in 1989, which he climbed together with the late Wolfgang Güllich. He will be deeply missed.

Report (in German)

After his imagination to have climbed K2 in August, several other achievements of Christian Stangl were questioned and if one compares his claims on his website and in his book with other expedition reports or witnesses, there are also some additional imaginations:

1) Shisha Pangma solo claim: He climbed together with a Basque expedition and he shared his tent with one of the members!
2) Cho Oyu new route and solo claim: He changed to the normal route and also shared a tent with another climber. This is also mentioned in the Himalayan Database.
3) Everest speed climb: Other Austrian climbers stated, that he did not start from ABC, but from The North Col.

During the K2 press conference he complained that it is embarrassing, when there are people, who wants to confirm everything, the whole free spirit of mountaineering would be in danger.

But, if everything could be confirmed, the only danger would be, that no more "Koma mountaineering" is possible! 

Report (in German)

Christian Stangl told the Austrian press today, that he was not on top of K2. He "only imagined the summit", he said in a press conference.

Report (in German)

It is very hard to believe his explanation. Mentioned besides, Christian Stangl read a book named "Vater (= Father) Morgana" at the time, before he "imagined" to be on top of K2!

Report (in German)